The NCAA has a plethora of opportunities for athletes to pursue their sport at the next level. They are even adding to that list with numerous entries to the official Emerging Sports profile. Make sure to check them out!
What is an Emerging Sport?
The Emerging Sports of the NCAA is an organization of its own, with their purpose cemented in the growth and establishment of Women's collegiate-level sports that have the potential to become an NCAA Championship Sport. In order for a sport to reach Championship level – which grants more funding, recruiting opportunities, and popular growth in the sport – it must have 40 NCAA schools with varsity-level programs within the span of 10 years of becoming Emerging Sport status. Once this happens, the NCAA grants them their status as a Championship Sport and moves to create an NCAA sponsored Championship Competition, a national stage where the top in the sport compete for their National Title.
Many Emerging Sports are for female student-athletes. Universities who aspire to grow their programs and abide by the Title IX rules of providing equal opportunities for men and women, realize that having more women's sports, such as the ones listed below, will accomplish this.
Related: How Title IX Fails Female Athletes
Acrobatics and Tumbling
This sport is a marriage between the different disciplines of gymnastics and competitive cheerleading. It includes acrobatic lifts, tosses, and tumbling. It was officially added as an NCAA sport for the 2020-2021 academic year across all Divisions. What's special about Acrobatics and Tumbling is that athletes compete in six events in varying group sizes as compared to Gymnastics' four individual events. Up to 28 student-athletes can be entered in competition for each meet!
Image source: EA Athletics
Equestrian
Currently only offered in three major DI conferences – Big 12, ECAC, SEC – Equestrian competes during the Fall semester from September to November, and in the Spring from January to March. Their average roster size can start at 40 student-athletes, with meets displaying five riders from each team who are randomly assigned a horse and given a short period of practice time before competing. There are four main events: Jumping Seat Fences, Jumping Seat Flat, Western Horsemanship, and Western Reining.
Image source: University of Lynchberg
Related: 5 tips for IHSA Equestrian Tryouts
Rugby
Collegiate Rugby offers a true full-contact sport for women in the NCAA. Although not dependent on contact, a successful team can use tackling, speed, strength, agility, passing, kicking, and driving to achieve their goals. These programs help schools meet their Title IX requirements because Rugby offers a low-cost budget, larger roster, and minimal equipment. With popularity climbing in middle and high school, the attraction of the cost and high participation rates continues to make the sport flourish at the collegiate level.
Image source: Athleticademix
Women's Wrestling
Women's Wrestling continues to grow on it's already substantial following with 13 programs in DIII, 22 in DII and 36 in NAIA. As DI schools come into the fold by offering varsity programs, the sport is still a ways away from earning their Championship status. Women continue to make their mark participating in DI Wrestling Clubs and even holding spots on Men's Teams. The female competition includes the freestyle and international style of wrestling.
Image source: Menlo Athletics
Triathlon
The Triathlon has been around in the NCAA since 2014, classified as an Emerging Sport. In line with their plans to get to the next stage of NCAA Championship Sport, 40 schools have signed on with Varsity Women's Triathlon teams, well before their 10-year deadline. The next steps include an official recommendation and a vote to add it to the list of Championship Sports. There have been some struggles with recruiting more athletes to support the economics and logistics of a Championship Sport, but officials are expecting the Triathlon to be approved.
Image source: Team USA
Related: 5 Tips for Cheerleaders to Get Recruited
STUNT
Mirroring the technical aspects of Gymnastics just like Acrobatics and Tumbling, this sport takes their technical approach to components of varsity cheer routines. Incorporating partner stunts, pyramids, basket tosses, group jumps, and tumbling, each team performs an identical routine and is judged on their execution simultaneously. STUNT is at the beginning of their Emerging Sports journey, securing an advancement to the final stage of becoming an official Emerging Sport within DII and DIII programs.
Photo Source: FloCheer
As women's athletics continue to grow with the addition of these emerging sports, the NCAA keeps track of other Emerging Sports that can encourage the inclusion of women from all backgrounds and support them in continuing their athletic career at the next level. Women's collegiate sports is a booming industry that showcases the versatile talents of female college athletes.
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* Originally published on March 10, 2022, by Catherine Light
